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Can I replace my own radiator cap?
Replacing the cap on your radiator is an easy thing to do and may only require a few seconds of your time. While a cap may be easy to replace however, it is not a substitute for proper radiator maintenance. Proper coolant changes and cleaning are key components to a healthy cooling system.
Are radiator caps all the same?
Radiator caps can come in all shapes and sizes unique to your car’s radiator. Different vehicles have different systems and therefore work with individual pressures. A malfunctioning radiator cap may cause the engine to overheat at lower temperatures or prevent the coolant from returning to the engine.
How often should I replace my radiator cap?
The radiator cap on your vehicle should last you the duration of the life of the vehicle, unless it is subjected to heavy rust. Check your radiator cap at regular intervals between six and twelve months.
Why is it a good idea to recommend a radiator cap when your customer replaced a radiator?
So, a radiator cap looks simple but, is critical for a properly operating cooling system. A faulty radiator cap can result in engine overheating, loss of coolant or major engine damage. So, pressurized cooling systems help prevent overheating and coolant loss.
Can the wrong radiator cap cause overheating?
If the cap can’t maintain the correct pressure for your vehicle, the engine will start to overheat. An overheating engine could also be a symptom of air pockets within the cooling system. If the radiator cap doesn’t have a good seal, air can make its way into the system, creating little pockets.
What pound radiator cap should I use?
Use one with the psi rating that the rest of your cooling system was designed for. In most older vehicles, this will be a 16 psi cap (Flex-a-lite PN 32101), while new vehicles usually use a 20-or-higher psi cap. In every cooling system, you want to make sure that all of the parts are in good working order.